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Monetizing personal projects: The restaurant, part one

Monetizing personal projects is important to me and I have found it to be a profitable way to build my business. You can too!

First connection

I made a twilight photo of my favorite local restaurant while experimenting with showing the lighted interior and a sunset. It was where I learned that the easiest way to make an interesting architectural photo of real estate was to set up the camera on a tripod and capture images over a time period of 20-45 minutes and blend them together.

After this image was made I entered it in the Arizona Professional Photographers Association annual image competition. After receiving feedback from the judges I realized there was more to learn with this technique. While the image did not merit it earned an above-average red ribbon. If that was all I got from assigning and completing this personal project it would have been a winner. But I didn’t stop there.

Original personal project image from 2009 that eventually led to lots of work

I framed the print, adding the award winning ribbon and my business card and offered it as a gift to the restaurant. Even though it had room for improvement the owners loved it. It was put on display in the restaurant in a high traffic area, which was solid exposure in and of itself. But even more, it helped cement my relationship with them.

New project

Fast-forward about a year and the owners sold this restaurant. They remodeled and opened a new restaurant that was much larger and featured live entertainment. I was hired because of my working with the owners to help promote the renovations and create interest and excitement for the opening.

We came up with the concept of combining the photos with text, using the voice of the owner, explaining the thought process of the demolition and décor choices in the form of a set of ‘Polaroid’ photos released over time before the opening party.

Construction underway

Documenting construction

Additional revenue

I added additional revenue to the project by offering to design and sell customized music inspired metal prints to decorate the niches in the main dining room.

Music niche art images, created specifically for this restaurant

Then it was time to create all the marketing images, which included food, interiors and exteriors with the surrounding red rock views.

Food photography — lobster, steak, wine and more

Shrimp cocktail

Dining room and stage

Sound Bites Grill — View from the deck

To be continued

There were, of course, many other images made as you can imagine. It all started with making an image on spec and sharing it with a potential client. This story continues in part two where there is cross-pollination with a previous personal project involving the musician. (see the musician story here)

Yours in Creative Photography, Bob

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Bob is a Lens Based Artist and has had the honor and privilege to author books and articles on photography and has presented seminars and programs from Hawaii to the Caribbean. As a former Panasonic Lumix Ambassador he has been able to stay up with the latest technology in the Micro Four Thirds cameras. Coates is a successful commercial and fine art photographer based in Sedona, Arizona with his wonderful wife who makes it possible for him to do all he does in the photography industry. Need a speaker? Get in touch.

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